Your Turn: How funding will transform Broome County

A $20 million state grant to assist redevelopment in Broome County will fund a wide range of projects, from quality-of-life improvements to housing to property revitalization, including a longtime Endicott eyesore.
Jeff Platsky / Staff video

Binghamton has submitted a proposal for roughly $2 million in state funding to create a downtown arts district.(Photo: Whitham Planning & Design)

Broome County recently received great news that New York state gave the green light to 32 major economic development projects funded from the $20 million Greater Binghamton Fund.

It’s great news because it will create over 150 new local jobs.

It’s great news because these 32 projects represent over $80 million in private and public investment.

Most importantly, it’s great news because this is going to be a game-changer for Broome County. These projects will absolutely transform Endicott, Johnson City and Binghamton.

Washington Avenue in Endicott, Main Street in Johnson City, and downtown Binghamton will see millions of dollars in streetscape improvements, including new sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, facade improvements and public art.

One of the many great streetscape projects that was funded is the creation of the Downtown Entertainment and Cultural (DECO) District in Binghamton. This is a great example of how Broome County offers assistance to our local municipalities. Broome County hired a consultant to develop a comprehensive plan that proved to be instrumental in obtaining funding for this project, which will ultimately result in a major tourist attraction and greatly enhance the quality of life in downtown Binghamton.

Broome County is leading a countywide initiative to develop safer and more affordable housing, and the Greater Binghamton Fund will be helping in a big way by funding tens of millions of dollars of housing projects, creating 145 units of affordable and market-rate housing.

The largest of these housing projects is the redevelopment of the former Henry B. Endicott School in Endicott. This $23 million project renovates a 75,000-square-foot vacant property, adding 71 units of affordable housing and filling a huge need in our community.

And of course, the Greater Binghamton Fund has awarded funding to a number of projects that will create many jobs in Broome County.

Binghamton has submitted a proposal for roughly $2 million in state funding to create a downtown arts district.(Photo: Whitham Planning & Design)

Also in Endicott, one of the biggest economic development projects is the demolition of the old Endicott Inn on Washington Avenue to make way for a brand new 76-unit hotel employing nearly 40 people.

This was a true community effort. Our team, made up of local business leaders, worked for many months to engage the community during this process and to help identify the best projects. Special thanks to my fellow co-chair Terry Kane, from Binghamton University, along with the rest of the work group and the Empire State Development staff who spent many hours working on this very important initiative.

Jason Garnar(Photo: File)

And this would have never happened without the support of our great state partners in Governor Cuomo, Senator Akshar and Assemblywoman Lupardo, who worked very hard to secure this critical funding for Broome County. Time after time, our local state representatives, regardless of political persuasion, work together to do whatever is needed to help make Broome County a better place to live, work and raise a family.

These 32 projects being funded through the Greater Binghamton Fund are going to bring new life to our downtown areas of Endicott, Johnson City and Binghamton. I’m proud to be co-chair of the Greater Binghamton Fund and help facilitate this positive transformation.